We were thrilled to host the second KCI Conference on July 13, 2024, at the Krause Center for Innovation. This year’s theme, “Innovate to Empower,” resonated deeply with our mission to foster innovation in education and empower educators to enhance their teaching practices.

The conference kicked off with an inspiring keynote by Dr. Yvonne Darlene Cagle, a NASA astronaut and a consulting professor at Stanford University. Dr. Cagle shared her extensive experience in space exploration and academia, highlighting her groundbreaking work in preserving NASA legacy data and leading initiatives in global mapping, sustainable energies, and disaster preparedness. She also works weekly in the KCI makerspace to advance medical science in space! Her talk set a high bar for the day, emphasizing the importance of innovation and strategic partnerships in advancing education.

Dr. Yvonne Darlene Cagle is an astronaut for NASA

Our lineup of presenters brought a wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives to the conference:

Presentation: AI Productivity with Joe Ayala

Joe discussed how AI can help educators focus on what truly matters—students, family, and self-care—by enhancing productivity and managing the multitude of tasks that pull us in different directions.

Socratic Dialogue with Kezia Yifru 

Kezia highlighted the significance of Socratic Dialogue in fostering critical thinking and engagement among students, especially for those with diverse learning needs. Her session provided practical methods to incorporate these dialogues into classroom discussions.

Culturally-Relevant Teaching: Memes, Music, and Social Media with Ruby Chavez

Ruby’s workshop empowered educators to connect with students through culturally relevant techniques. Attendees learned to integrate tools like Giphy, music, and social media into their teaching practices to enhance cultural competence and student engagement.

Chat Circles  with Jenny Spiteri

Jenny demonstrated the effectiveness of using chat circles for community building, listening, and sharing ideas. Participants experienced firsthand how this approach can give everyone a voice and be applied across various subject matters.

Math Games

Offline Coding in the Classroom with Lisa Rivera

Lisa’s session showcased ways to bring coding into K-5 classrooms without the need for internet connectivity. Attendees had the opportunity to try out these offline coding tools and learn how to integrate them into everyday lessons.

Paper Sculpture with Elisabeth Bonnet 

Elisabeth presented a series of STEAM activities involving paper sculpture, linking them to art, job awareness, and literacy activities. Participants engaged in hands-on activities that promoted problem-solving and creativity.

Building Confidence and Joy through Math Puzzles and Games with Daniel Kline

Daniel introduced attendees to the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival’s fun and meaningful math puzzles and games. His workshop emphasized the development of fundamental problem-solving skills and provided resources for bringing these activities into classrooms and communities.

BeeBots

SchoolAI with Emily Snyder

Emily showcased SchoolAI, a powerful tool for enhancing daily teaching tasks and creating AI-generated documents. Attendees learned about various AI assistants and how to create custom AI spaces for students.

Broadcasting Brilliance: Highlighting Teacher Wins with Podcasts and Newsletter with Stacy Kratochvil

Stacy inspired educators to celebrate and share their students’ successes and creativity through podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Her session encouraged a strengths-focused mindset and highlighted the potential for professional development within the school community.

KCIcon 2024 was a resounding success, bringing together passionate educators and innovators committed to enhancing the educational experience. We look forward to continuing this journey of empowerment and innovation in the years to come and hope to see you at our next event!

Thank you to all who attended and contributed to making this conference an unforgettable experience!

Check out our event website to see the presenter’s slide decks.

Networking